My Life as an African Gypsy

Friday morning, June 15th.

The induction had been set. For personal reasons and concerns, we decided that if Jovie hadn't made her grand entrance by 39 weeks, we wanted to induce labor. My experience with Anaya had been a good enough one, except for the pushing and trauma involved there, so we were comfortable and at peace with repeating the process, and praying for an easier transition period/delivery.

On June 15th I was 39wks + 1day. My doctor had been traveling for the previous 10 days, and I was relieved she would be the one to deliver my little Jovie. (Remember I live in Mozambique, Africa, a 3rd world country. There are plenty of competent doctors, but I find it difficult, personally, to trust 'the doctor on call'.)

We did not have an appointment set, but were to be worked in, so we decided to arrive at the doctor between 8 and 8:30am, knowing my doctor usually arrives between 9 and 9:30am. If we were the first in the waiting room, and if our doctor saw us as she walked into her office, we knew we'd get in a little faster. Sure enough, as soon as she walked in we were able to go in her office and chat with her. She rubbed my belly with a broad smile and said, "She waited for me!" She jotted in our chart to do the induction and then sent us over to the maternity ward to have the heart rate monitored and the cervix softener placed.

Jovie was healthy and the process was ready. It was 9:45am when the nurse placed the cervix softener. I had not dilated any, but was soft. This was a little discouraging to me, as I was 3cm when we induced with Anaya. I had hope of delivering before dinner, as I had done with Anaya, but the pill was being placed later and now I wasn't even dilated. Boo! They have you stay laying down for 10-15 minutes to keep the pill in place, and then we opted to go home to wait and begin labor. If nothing had happened by 4pm, they said we could place another pill. I would want to come back anyway to check Jovie's heart. With the hospital being, 35-45 minutes from our house without traffic we would have to leave our house to return at 3:15pm or so.

On the way home we stopped at a grocery store to do a junk food run for both me and my mom, who would be staying home with Anaya. Popcorn, cookies, gummie bears, pringles... I thought I was feeling a tad crampy, but figured it was more from the cervix check than anything. We got home and not much was happening. We ate lunch and hung out a bit. I still felt a little crampy, but was getting more and more discouraged, thinking we'd have to return at 4 for another pill, and then maybe get stuck laboring the whole time at the hospital.

I decided to take my exercise ball into my room, as Anaya would not permit me bouncing on it without her joining or switching off, and try to encourage some action. With Anaya I liked to place my knees on the floor and drape my body over the top, belly hanging, and rock a bit side to side. (That is what I was doing when my water broke with Anaya.) Jon joined me in the room and we turned on some Chris Tomlin worship music. I bounced a bit on top of the ball, and then would trade off to my knees. Around 1:30pm I felt a small gush of fluid. It was small, but I knew something was happening. Still, no contractions. Around maybe 2pm I had another little gush.

I was still feeling discouraged as we looked at the clock, knowing we maybe have to return to the hospital without being in full on labor, and I knew at this point they'd probably keep me. The contraction began, but they were very short and not hard. I was not needing to breathe or pace through them, so they were not even worth monitoring, to me. I felt like they were frequent , but not very productive. I finally told Jon, maybe I should go outside with my Mom and Anaya to distract me and walk a bit. Immediately the contractions had more intensity. I came into update Jon, but I still was not wanting to monitor anything as I was able to chit chat through contractions. It was about 2:30. We had started to load the car to be ready to leave. My mom laughed as I was loading my own car, but the contraction really felt light, and I figured continuing with life as normal was better. Jon suggested we time a couple contractions for the heck of it. They were only 30 seconds, but coming about 1 minute apart. We decided we should go ahead and go, to be safe and not risk a terribly miserable trip in the car; it was 3pm.

The car ride was uneventful, and I managed my contractions easily. They seemed to slow a bit while sitting in the car. We calmly arrived to the hospital. Jon was a tad embarrassed to carry my HUGE exercise ball through the entire hospital,  but he is a rockstar husband and didn't complain. (It didn't even fit in through the door! He had to hit it, as it popped through. Ha!)

We got set up in the room, and I then I got a glimpse of Jon... he didn't look so well. I asked if he was okay, and he said something like, "It isn't about me." That meant he wasn't doing good. He looked sweaty and pale, and I was confused. He went into the bathroom, and it was confirmed... not well. Vomiting and diarrhea. Great timing. Not something he could help though, obviously.

My doctor was wrapping up a delivery, so the nurse said she'd be by in a bit and check me herself. We waited, contractions stayed about the same, 30 seconds, hurting, but I could sing through them, so I was convinced they were not super effective yet. I would walked and sway to the music in between each contraction and then hop up onto the bed on my hands and knees during each contraction, as it seemed the most comfortable.

My doctor came in at around 4:40pm to check me. I was 5cm, and my doctor asked if she could break my water. I agreed, and she was able to do so quickly without the help of instruments. I knew labor would pick up, and my doctor jokingly said as she walked out the door, "Don't freak out." Perhaps she was envisioning the beastly actions of before.

Jon continued to need the bathroom. I could tell he was frustrated and upset that it was happening. In between contractions I'd ask how he was doing, and he'd always respond along the lines of , "This isn't about me, you focus." Since I was managing so well, I figured I might as well check on him; I'd remind him there wasn't anything we could do about it and it was just happening, like it or not... we'd be fine.

My doctor came back in around 5pm. I told her I was beginning to have the "poop feeling", but this time I knew it was the baby's head. Her response: "Already?! We might be ready to push." She noticed, and we explained Jon's current situation, so she got him a shot organized to try and stop the vomiting. As Jon was getting that shot, my doctor rubbed my back and chatted through contractions; she is pretty much the best. =) She commented on how the contractions were right on top of each other, and I laughed about how nice it was to have a whole minute or so in between! With Anaya, it was like one big contraction, no normal talking or breathing from  7cm-10cm and then throughout pushing.

She decided to check me again, as every contraction brought on the 'poop feeling'. With the contractions so close together, I did not want to catch one on my back, so as I laid down I felt one coming, and flipped quickly on my hands and knees and asked to wait. 30 seconds later, I quickly flipped back over and begged her to hurry. Who can labor on their back? It is awful! I was about an 8, and it was determined we should move to the delivery room. Thankfully it was a short walk within the ward this time... no riding elevators and walking through waiting rooms. I labored through one more contraction in the room and then sped walked to the delivery, not wanting to catch a contraction on the way. Jon dizzily followed.

I wanted to pee before pushing, so I ran into the bathroom and did so. There was the delivery table in the middle of the room and a hospital bed against the wall. A contraction had started, so I asked if I could hop up on the bed, as of course I could. My doctor wanted to put in a IV port quickly and give me a little sugar push for energy, as pushing was difficult last time. I was fine with it.

It was time to get on the delivery table. I felt it was laying too far back, so asked if it could be raised. It couldn't. My doctor quickly arranged for them to bring me pillows to help me feel propped up. At this time I was on my hands and knees whining, "I don't want to do this!" "I remember this feeling!" "I hate this feeling!" "You're just going to have to pull it out!" "I don't want to this!" My doctor was laughing and telling me I was just going to have to, and I indeed could do it. (I had a picture before I pushed with Anaya, so I wanted one for Jovie, too. I think my doctor thinks I am crazy. Ha!)



I laid back and she urged me to push with the next contraction. As I did she encouraged me the head was right there, and to keep pushing. I thought (as I later found out Jon did, too) that she was lying to encourage my good pushing. I pushed hard and let out a big scream at the end. While we waited for the next contraction, I was still in quite a bit of pain, saying I was done and wanted to quit. Then my doctor firmly told me to push, and I did. My eyes were shut and I could hear other voices saying, "Don't stop! The head is right here! Don't stop!" (It was the pediatrician.) I couldn't continue, so I stopped for a bit. I can't remember well, but one or two pushes later, there she was! I felt the head out, I heard my doctor say, "Now stop!" and out she came and was suddenly on my chest.

Jon tells me he was a little confused. We both expected it to be longer and harder and for me to lose control a bit more, so when Jovie was put on my chest, he first thought she was a towel or something. Even I was taken aback! She's here! Already! Relief.

It was 5:25pm.



"She's okay?" I asked. "She's just fine," my doctor assured. She prepped the umbilical cord, and Jon came over to cut. Jon, still feeling awful, stood a little dazed next to me. I reminded him to go get a video and take pictures, and he did so without missing a beat.

My doctor delivered the placenta, and we laughed about it looking like a jelly fish. I had torn some, so we prepped for stitches. She gave my the local deadening shots and got to work. I am not sure how many I got. I believe only one on the outside and multiple on the inside; it took awhile. I appreciate my doctor's perfectionism, however, and the pride she takes in her work. She makes sure everything will get back to normal, and that is appreciated.

Jon came and went during this period, as he needed. Jovie had come out quickly, so she needed a bit of oxygen. She cried more than Anaya, which was actually reassuring. When my doctor finished and they were changing and cleaning me up, she went to see Jovie. She took off the mask and decided she looked ready to eat. They brought her to me and she was able to breastfeed for the first time, right there on the delivery table. She latched like a champ.



Then the nurses were ready to put clothes and a diaper on her, and it was time for me to head to my room. Jon was already in there, so I left Jovie and they brought her to me minutes later. I didn't want to leave her, but told myself she'd be fine, and the ward was so small and quiet, I could hear her the whole time.

I got set up in bed, and Jon laid on the bed next to me, pale and exhausted; I couldn't believe that had happened to him when it did. Seriously? The timing! Jovie arrived quickly and I got to snuggle her and look good and long at her precious face. She looked very different, to me, than Anaya, and I was taking it all in. She breastfed some more. I began to feel hungry and eyeballed the bag of gummy bears across the room. I didn't want to disturb my sick, nearly asleep husband, but I couldn't get up, and oh how those gummy bears looked good. I would look at Jon, then look at the gummy bears. Look at Jon. Look at gummy bears. "Honey??" I whispered, "Can you get me those gummy bears?" Without hesitation he hopped up, stumbled to the chair, and stumbled back to me with the bag of gummy bears, assuring me it was no problem, though I could see the effort it had taken. He fell back into bed, and I began ravenously eating my gummy bears, surely making more noise with the bag than necessary. Ahhh.

Jon had called my sweet friend Amy when Jovie was born, and she was going to run my mom and Anaya by the hospital so they could meet Jovie. (I say "run them by"... it was a long drive during traffic, so a labor of love for sure on Amy's part. So very appreciated.) Before their arrival Jon and I chatted and decided he shouldn't stay the night. He wouldn't be a help, and inside I knew I'd only be irritated with him. We thought through our options. Maybe my mom could stay with me and Jon could take Anaya, as Anaya would go to bed as soon as they got home. We weren't sure, however, Jon would be able to drive all the way home, or that he'd be well enough in the morning to care for Anaya on his own. Anaya could go to Amy's, but she'd didn't have any clothes or diapers, and she already had been a little out of sorts throughout the day, and I'd only worry if she was okay. She has attached herself to my mom, Gee, and I knew I wouldn't give a second thought to her happiness if she could stay with her. (HUGE blessing she was/is here.) We decided Amy would take everyone home, including Jon, and I'd stay alone for the night.



When my Mom, Anaya, and Amy arrived, Anaya was so sleepy. She had a look at Jovie, but was not too interested. On the other hand, she took quick note of the hospital blanket covered in teddy bears. She loves teddies. My Mom didn't even get the chance to hold Jovie, as she kept Anaya, but she did get a good look. Jon was still struggling so they left nearly as quickly as they came. We snapped a quick 'family of 4' photo, and Jon put on a smile. I cried a bit as they left, feeling sorry for myself, though I was able to pull it together quickly.



I put Jovie in her bassinet, and decided to go to the bathroom and change clothes. I was amazed that I could without too much pain. Obviously I was sore, but I could tell instantly that I was so much better off than with Anaya. Not too long after, Jovie passed her first poop. I changed her diaper, and she hardly fussed. The night was easy, and I got more rest than I expected. Jovie was a dream.

The next morning Jon had our other dear friend Ian come and get him to bring him to me. As I waited the nurses came to clean the umbilical cord and give Jovie a sponge bath, two things I refused for Anaya, but I guess I am already a little more laid back with the second baby. I oversaw everything, but was happy to have someone else do it. The nurses at this hospital had been amazing so far, and I had a lot more confidence in them, than the nurses at the hospital where I delivered Anaya.

The pediatrician came by around 9:30-10am and discharged Jovie, and it was not much later my doctor came by to discharge me. After incredibly slow paper work, we were discharged and arrived home at about 1pm.

Adjustment has been easy. My mom has been more than a blessing, helping with cooking and cleaning, and especially giving the extra attention for Anaya. Jovie is the sweetest, easiest, most contented newborn I've known. She sleeps and eats well and is already falling into a great feeding schedule. Things may change some in the weeks to come, but I am positive she is nothing but a joy to our family.

Jovie Fé, your name is perfect, as are you. Welcome to our family! You are so very loved.